Boston’s BEST freebies this month
Plus: 🌠Hot dog deals!
💋 Need recs for a first date? Where to get lunch on the cheap? Things to do after work? This month, we want YOU to pick the topic for B-Side Hotline, our monthly guide that helps you find the best that Boston has to offer. Drop your dream topics here!
👀 What’s on tap today:
- Mass.’ James Beard snub
- Hot dog deals!
- Drake Maye’s new ‘do
Up first…
APRIL FREEBIES
Concerts, culture, and clothing swaps
Illustration: Gia Orsino
Forget April showers, this month, it’s raining FREEBIES. And the lineup looks good.
Here’s what to do without spending a dime:
💦 Stretch out and get sweaty. Friendly reminder that CorePower Yoga offers free community yoga classes on Sundays at 11 a.m. There are still plenty of spots open for classes all throughout April.
🖼️ Spend a night at the museum with fellow college kids. The museum’s College Night is slated for April 10, with art-making stations, a DJ, a photobooth, and a cameo from everyone’s fav pop-up artist Nick Shea. The best part: Your student ID gets you in for free!
🌸 Catch a concert in bloom. The Arnold Arboretum is hosting a free “In Bloom” spring concert series. Each show is themed around a different bloom — you’ll sit among the flowers, learn about their cultural and historical impact, and listen to tunes, from classical to pop to folk. April 11 is magnolias, April 25 is cherry blossoms, and crabapples are May 2.
🍦 Scream for free ice cream! April 14 is free cone day at Ben & Jerry’s, which means everyone gets a free scoop of ice cream between 12 and 8 p.m., no questions asked! Find your closest scoop shop here.
🏃♀️ Run your way to a giveaway. You don’t need to run 26.2 miles to take advantage of all the freebies around marathon weekend. A few highlights: This Cooldown Running shakeout on April 19 with free Rendezvous sunnies and smoothies, and Heartbreak Hill Running Company’s entire weekend of free activities, from a street fair to a local’s night, with tons of giveaways.
🌏 Explore Asian culture. Take your pick between the Thai Market Songkran Festival on April 18, bringing performances, street food, and artisan vendors to Harvard Square, or Boston’s annual Japan Festival on the Common on April 25 and 26. Expect music, food, culture workshops, and a cosplay fashion show.
👖 Trade shopping for swapping. At this April 28 clothing exchange at MIT Open Space, you can swap or donate your gently used clothes, and spruce up your new threads with a block printing station from artist Alie Reilinger.
🚲 Tune up your wheels. Casa Bikes is offering free bike tune-ups and live jazz music on April 29. Make sure to register here and show up ahead of time — it gets crowded!
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TOGETHER WITH MINDS WITH PURPOSE FOUNDATION
A foolproof engagement with all the perks
🩷 💫Ready to feel inspired, energized, and connected? Rise & Thrive Women’s Conference is taking over The Cyclorama on Saturday, April 19 for a full day of leadership, culture, and community. Expect a powerful keynote by Kionelie Ortega, a panel of women leaders, women-owned vendors, and plenty of opportunities to meet like-minded people. Between networking, music by Lisabello and Yanna G, fashion, and more surprises, this isn’t your typical conference — it’s a whole experience. Grab your ticket here and come explore your full potential.
CITY
Quick & dirty headlines
Image: Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe
😬 What does having zero James Beard finalists mean for Mass.? To the world, Mass.’ absence in this year’s awards re-enforces the narrative that Boston is a terrible food city. But according to Globe food critic and former James Beard judge Devra First, the issue isn’t the talent — it’s the awards process. Often, the lists of finalists can be shaped by the voices (or lack thereof) advocating for them through the judging process. So the fact that Mass. had zero finalists may point to flaws with how the panel was constructed.
✈️ Flying JetBlue? Your baggage prices just went up. The airline just announced it’s raising checked bagged fees by $4 during off-peak travel periods, and $9 during peak travel periods (think: Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break). Now, passengers travelling within the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada will pay a minimum of $39 or $49 for a checked bag, respectively. The airline, which is one of Logan’s leading carriers, cited rising operating costs for the hike — its first since 2024, when they raised prices twice … without an announcement. Not cool!
🌷 Boston’s signs of spring are piling up. For one thing, the Public Garden lagoon is being refilled after undergoing its annual spring cleaning just in time for swan boat season, which kicks off April 18. (Speaking of … we definitely didn’t get got by this April Fools post about self-driving swan boats). Meanwhile, Mount Auburn Cemetery’s iconic Washington Tower is back open for the season, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering panoramic views of the city from 62 feet up!
🌭 Opening day = hot dog deals. If you’re looking for a free weiner, April 3 is your chance! South Street Diner will be offering free, all-you-can-eat hot dogs with the purchase of a bev from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and The Sausage Guy cart at Fenway is offering free sausages for the first 100 folks who show up at 12 p.m. If you’re willing to fork over a buck, Pauli’s in the North End is offering $1 dogs for one hour only — anyone in line between 1:10 p.m. and 2:09 p.m. will get the deal. Happy glizzy guzzling!
ONE LAST THING
Drake Maye’s new ‘do
Image: Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe. Illustration: Gia Orsino.
Nine times out of 10, getting a buzzcut = a bad idea. But in Drake Maye’s case, we’ll make an exception.
The Pats QB shaved his head for Boston Children’s Hospital’s “Saving by Shaving” event this week. Granite Telecommunications donated $2,500 for every person who shaved their head or donated at least eight inches of hair, and matched the donations dollar for dollar.
Obviously, the whole thing is on video.
Queen of New England Ann Michael Maye took the first few passes before turning it over to the pros. “I cut my grandma’s hair one time, and it looked so horrible,” she told the Globe beforehand (which might explain why Drake looks so scared).
As for the final look? He debuted it at a Bruins game, tipping his cap to a fan wearing an I <3 Drake Maye tee.
— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario
💇🏻♂️ Thanks for reading! Drake, if you’re reading this … pull a Marcus Smart and dye it blue.
💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Minds With Purpose Foundation, for empowering women and young people in Boston and beyond.
😋 The results are in: 60% of B-Siders said they bring in their daily lunch from home. One reader said: “I don’t make ‘daily slop bowl’ money!” SO fair.
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